From then on, he became the love of my life," Ahalya added with a smile.
Agastya had tears in his eyes while listening to the story. He saw the deep love they had for each other in their eyes.
He thought to himself, "I don't belong in their story. It's time for me to leave."
As the sun rose, Agastya quietly left, leaving behind a note:
"Wishing you both a happy life ahead. Keep loving each other."
Ahalya found the note, smiled, and showed it to Advik.
While driving back home, Agastya said to himself,
"She's happy in her own life. I shouldn't disturb her. I need to move on. I deserve to love myself and be happy too."
Agastya then called Sid.
Sid: "Hey!! Where were you? I've called you several times! How are you??"
Agastya: "Oh!! Hold on, bro. So much love?"
Sid: "Shut up!"
Agastya: "You know what? I met Ahalya. She's very happy in her life."
Sid: "What? You met Ahalya??"
Agastya: "Yeah. So sad that she doesn't remember any of us."
Sid: "What?? I'm not understanding anything. Where are you? Tell me the place, I'll come see you."
Agastya: "I'm coming near your house."
Sid: "Okay, come."
A few minutes later, Agastya reached Sid's house.
The moment he saw Sid, Agastya ran to him, hugged him tightly, and started to cry.
Agastya: "Bro…!"
After Agastya calmed down, Sid gently asked,
Sid: "What happened?"
Agastya began to share everything that had happened — Ahalya, her story, everything.
After hearing it all, Sid too became emotional and tried to console him.
Agastya: "Come, let's go for a walk and grab some tea."
Sid: "Yeah, let's go."
They were walking down the street, talking, then suddenly Sid's phone rang.
Sid: "Who's calling this time?
[Scene: Sid picks up the phone. The unknown number. The quiet night.]
Sid: "Hello?"
A soft voice responds… barely audible.
Voice: "Hey, Sid…"
Sid freezes. His eyes widen in shock.
His breath catches as he slowly turns his head, looking straight ahead — across the empty street.
And there she is.
A faint silhouette of a girl, standing under the dim glow of a streetlight. Her long hair swaying slightly in the breeze, head tilted… as if she's watching him.
Sid's POV: Her face is pale. Familiar. Too familiar.
Sid: (whispering to himself) "No… it can't be…"
His phone screen goes dark. The call ends.
Agastya notices Sid's frozen stance.
Agastya: (confused) "Sid? Sid…? What's going on?"
Sid doesn't respond. His eyes are locked on the spot. But now… she's gone.
Agastya: (worried) "Sid!!"
Sid (snaps out of it): "Huh? Yes… yeah… Agastya… what happened?"
Agastya: "I should ask you. Who was on that call? You looked like you saw a ghost."
Sid wipes the sweat off his brow, forcing a small smile.
Sid: "It was nothing. Some… unknown number."
Agastya: (eyeing him) "You sure?"
Sid: "Yeah. Let's not overthink it, man."
Agastya nods slowly but doesn't fully believe him.
[Internal monologue – Sid's thoughts]
"That voice… that face… it was her. After all these years. But how? Why now?"
Sid swallows hard, hiding the tremble in his hands.
"Agastya can't know. Not yet. This past… is mine to carry."
[Scene: Sid's House – Late Night]
After the intense walk, Sid and Agastya sat in silence for a while, sipping tea. The clock ticked past 2 AM.
Agastya: (yawning) "Bro, I'll just crash here tonight. Too tired to drive."
Sid: (forcing a smile) "Yeah, sure. Use the guest room—like old times."
Agastya: "Thanks, man… and hey, whatever that call was… if you ever wanna talk, I'm here."
Sid: (quietly) "I know."
Agastya walks off and soon falls asleep.
[Later – Sid alone in his room, lights off, lying in bed]
The room is quiet, but Sid's mind is loud.
Flashes of the girl he saw. Her voice. That ghostly figure.
Sid (to himself):
"It was her. I know it was. But how could she be alive... after what happened?"
He turns to the side. Tries to shut his eyes.
[Dream begins – surreal and vivid]
Sid is standing in an empty corridor, flickering tube lights above. The air feels heavy.
Footsteps.
He turns.
There she is.
The same girl from the street. Same dress. Same haunting eyes.
But now… she's walking toward him.
Girl: "Why, Sid?"
Her voice echoes unnaturally.
Sid: (stepping back) "No… this isn't real…"
Girl (closer now, whispering): "You left me there… alone."
Sid: "I didn't mean to—"
Suddenly, she pulls out a KNIFE.
Without warning, she lunges forward.
Sid screams—
[Sid wakes up – GASPING]
His shirt is drenched in sweat. His heart pounding like a drum.
He looks around — his room is dark. Silent. Safe.
But his hands are still shaking.
Sid (whispering): "She's haunting me now… even in my dreams."
He looks at the clock: 3:33 AM.
A cold wind brushes across his face, even though the windows are shut.
His phone lights up.
Unknown Number: "Miss me?"
Sid throws the phone to the floor, panicked.
[Next Morning — Agastya still asleep. Sid sits alone at the edge of his bed, lost in thought.]
Sid (internal monologue):
"I thought that chapter was over.
I thought she was gone.
But she's back…
And she wants something from me."
Sid sits at the edge of his bed, staring at his trembling hands. Eyes wide, sunken, dark circles forming. He hasn't slept since the nightmare.
His phone still lies on the floor from the night before.
Sid (softly, to himself):
"I should've done something… I should've saved her."
He buries his face in his palms.
Sid:
"But I froze. Again. Just like that night."
His mind flashes back — a memory that hits him like a truck.
[FLASHBACK – That Night, Years Ago]
It was raining. Loud. Muddy. Screams echoed through the alleyway.
The girl – pale, scared, bleeding – reaches out to Sid.
Girl: "Sid… help me… please…"
But Sid stands there — frozen.
His eyes fixate on the blood streaming down her arm.
His breathing quickens.
The sound of blood dripping hits him harder than thunder.
Sid (in memory): "No… I can't… I can't…"
His legs shake. His vision blurs. His chest tightens.
And then—everything goes black. He faints.
[Back to Present]
Sid:
"I let her die… because of my fear."
He clenches his fists, pressing them to his forehead.
Sid:
"Some hero I was… couldn't even move. Just watched her suffer… and collapse."
A tear slips down his cheek.
Sid:
"If I had just taken one step… if I had just fought through it…"
He looks up, hollow-eyed, staring into nothingness.
Sid:
"You're back now, aren't you? You're haunting me because I failed you."
He looks toward the closed window.
Sid (quietly):
"I deserve it."
A gust of wind rattles the window slightly, as if she heard him.
He closes his eyes, bracing for another vision. Another nightmare. Another call.